Derry Girls has become the biggest series ever in Northern Ireland since modern records began in 2002, Channel 4 has said.

Consolidated figures have taken account of time-shifted viewing on a television over a seven day period and confirmed the comedy had an average of 519k viewers in Northern Ireland and 64.2% share of the audience.

It reached 54% of the Northern Ireland TV audience, including 65% of 16-34 year old viewers.

Meanwhile, across the UK, consolidated viewing figures reveal that the first series of Derry Girls was watched by an average of 2.5 million viewers, making it Channel 4's biggest comedy launch since 2004.

Derry Girls is also the biggest ever comedy launch series on catch up service All 4.

Lisa McGee's nostalgic series depicts the lives of a group of teenagers growing up in the Maiden City in the 1990s amid the Troubles.

The Derry-born creator and writer said: “Derry Girls is a project very dear to my heart and I’m delighted that so many people have joined us for the ride (no, Michelle, not that sort of ride…).

"It’s particularly special to me that the Northern Irish audience has supported it in the way that they have – I’ve been blown away by the response to the series and am so excited that we get to do it all again with the second series.”

Fiona McDermott, Head of Comedy said: “We are beyond thrilled that not only is Derry Girls our biggest comedy launch series since 2004, but that it is the biggest series ever to air in Northern Ireland.